IBM Token Ring

[Lyle Bickley]

On Thursday 21 July 2005 17:46, John Boffemmyer IV wrote:
> Actually, I feel pretty retarded, but I may as well ask (pre-emptive
> shut-up, Sellam -grin). I have been trying to get my TR network
> working for over a year now and can't for some damned reason. Most of
> the NICs are either Madge or IBM PCI (a few are Olicom PCI/ISA or IBM
> MCA). The hubs are Bay Networks Baystack 504 (loaded with DCM, NMM,
> MDA, etc) or Centillion 100 with TokenSpeed 4 port blades mixed with
> ATMSpeed/155 and EtherSpeed 10/100 blades. Can't get either to
> properly allow the NICs to communicate over the hubs. Tried a lot of
> things and still can't figure out what is wrong. Also have an IBM
> 8228 MAU, but no reset tool to make it work. I have all the cabling
> and even tried RJ45<->RJ45 vs. Type 1 vampire<->DB9 cabling -
> nothing. Anyone have any ideas? I was dumb and gave my working 3Com
> TR hub to a friend years ago, so that is out of the picture. What I
> can't understand is why I can't get the 504 working on the network
> again after it ran a few years ago when last used.
> -John Boffemmyer IV

John,

I know Token Ring well - but you haven't provided enough information for me to 
give you a hand.

1) Have you connected a single workstation successfully to a MAU - i.e. Did it 
"open" as expected?

2) Once you've got two workstations/servers connected individually, then test 
them together.  Although I found IBM, Olicom and Thomas-Contrad to be very 
compatible - I'd stick to one vendor until you've got at least two stations 
communicating with each other. The drivers for each vendors product and 
sometimes model are totally different.  Be sure you are using the drivers 
appropriate for each vendor's board.

3) Make sure you don't mix speeds!  This was a classic problem w/TR networks - 
if you mix 4 and 16 speeds, a TR network will go into continual "beaconing".

4) Keep is simple - one MAU - adding/testing workstations - then add 
additional MAUs, using the verified workstations at UUT (Units under test).

Cheers,
Lyle
-- 
Lyle Bickley
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
Mountain View, CA
http://bickleywest.com

"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"